Abra Achallaque – 4,962m

Departamento de Arequipa, Peru

The road over this pass wasn’t on any maps we found, however we were delighted to have seen the road on Google Earth as it turned out to be a really good route to cycle. The surface is in decent condition apart from the first 15kms out of Jachaña, and as a large team of workers were improving it while we were there it should be in even better condition in future. At about 4,850m as we were chugging up to the pass at 6kph a workman in a 4×4 stopped us to politely ask if we would mind speeding up a bit as he was about to blow up ‘half the hillside’ to widen the road!

Great descent, initially on switchbacks, then down a nice valley to Caylloma.